"5"^^ . . . "14"^^ . "We have been going here to the Gilbert campus about a year and a half. Children's section is fantastic...have had no problems. They give you a card/keyring tag so you can use the scanner yourself and check your child in if need be, and they make you show the matching sticker when you pick your child up. I do not know if the child care or other kids' workers have to go thru background checks.\n\nPastor Chads sermons ( they call them talks) are usually well-delivered, when he is there. It seems about half the time he is not and there is another pastor preaching, though. \n\nThe student ministry has a lot of fun things to do before and after service in their section, plus they have a juice bar where you can buy smoothies, etc, but the camps are pricey (both winter and summer camp) and my child didn't seem to get much out of camp either time, plus there are bullies at the camps, I guess like everywhere, but they didn't take enough precautions to prevent it even after knowing it had been happening.\n\nThe church likes to do a lot of various outreaches to the community, like collect food for the shelters, etc, but sometimes, it seems they have their hands out just a bit too much asking for $$ for the various things so they can meet lofty goals that they set based on previous experience.\n\nThere are tons of small groups to get involved with. There are also ample opportunities to serve in quite a few areas and it's NOT overwhelming, like \"we need u every week!\". Both of these things will help you feel like you know people/have friends in such a big church if you participate.\n\nLastly, and this is one of the big disappointments of mine besides the bullying at camp...the music during worship is only so-so. They often sing songs that I have no clue what the song is (I thought maybe it was because I was new at first...but I am not new now and still happening). They rarely sing any older contemporary songs or hymns. And, to top it off...after every single song, the band does not transition naturally to the next song. They stop and wait for clapping! Soo offensive, bordering on either disorganization/can't figure out how to transition (doubtful) or arrogance. The current worship pastor at least applauds with ppl like he is clapping to the Lord and not looking for his own pat on the back, but I got the scoop from an insider...they want it to feel like a concert environment. To me, worship is for the Lord and shouldn't be concert-esque. Should be worshipful and upward-focused. \n\nFyi current service times: Sat 430 amd 6pm. \nSun 9, 1030, 1159am. \nI do not believe they have all the teen groups' programs during all the services, though."^^ . . "2014-07-06T00:00:00"^^ . "1"^^ . "2"^^ .